Historic Rhino Reintroductions in Kidepo Valley National Park, Uganda
A family of white rhino takes shade in the African Savannah. Photo ©Yulia Lakeienko
In partnership with the Uganda Conservation Foundation (UCF) and the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA), will reintroduce rhinoceros to Kidepo Valley National Park in northeastern Uganda in one of Africa's first cross-border wildlife exchanges.
Five white rhinos are scheduled to be transferred from Kenya to Kidepo Valley National Park between March 16 and 20, 2026, in exchange for two species of endangered wildlife sent from Uganda to Kenya. Itinerary is subject to change.
An additional five rhinos will travel from Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary in Uganda to Kidepo. The transfers mark the first wildlife trading agreement between Uganda and Kenya and will restore a species absent from Uganda's wild landscapes for more than 50 years.
The receiving habitat—a new rhino sanctuary in the Narus Valley inside Kidepo Park—is fully complete, including fence lines, access roads, fire management infrastructure, and a refurbished Nataba Gate.
Jeff Morgan, Executive Director of Global Conservation, said, “By bringing back the Rhino, it shows that Uganda is stable again for tourism, national parks are being protected, and Ugandans and international visitors can watch rhinos in their natural setting, which will be an incredible feat.”
Media Access
Members of the press are invited to request access to join the expedition and witness the reintroduction firsthand. Royalty-free footage and photography will be made available. Interview opportunities are available with:
Jeff Morgan, Executive Director, Global Conservation (available by phone or video)
Paul Jan Hilton, Director of Filmmaking, Global Conservation
Michael Keigwin, CEO, Uganda Conservation Foundation
Representatives of Uganda Wildlife Authority
Press Contacts
Julia Pacetti, Verdant — julia@jmpverdant.com
Cordelia Sklansky, Verdant — cordelias@jmpverdant.com
Paul Roberts, Verdant — paul@jmpverdant.com
A wild white rhinoceros was sedated, allowing the animal to be microchipped, measured, and sampled for its protection. Photo © Alex Wilco
After having its horn drilled, the vet was preparing the microchip to be placed inside. Photo © Alex Wilco
Background: Reintroductions of Rhinos in Uganda
March 2026 – Making History
Rhinos in the wild have been extinct in Uganda for over 50 years. A small private reserve—Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary—has bred a small herd of captive rhinos in a former cattle ranch. With excellent reproduction success in the past 20 years, we now have an opportunity to reintroduce eight (8) rhinos from Ziwa to Kidepo National Park.
With funding from Global Conservation, the Rhino Recovery Fund, the Uganda Conservation Foundation (UCF), and Wild Landscapes/Northern Rangelands Trust (NRT), we are making history by reintroducing rhinos to the wild in Uganda.
Major investments in Park Community Protection over the past 3 years have set the stage where rhinos can be secure, and the Uganda Wildlife Authority is sending 40+ rangers to Kidepo and recruiting 80 more this summer.
Protection of Kidepo Valley is challenging with a common border with South Sudan; cattle raiders and wildlife poaching are prevalent. It is estimated fewer than 20 lions remain in Kidepo due to heavy poaching and snaring. The next 5 years determine whether Kidepo Valley National Park can protect its new arrivals and wildlife across the landscape while providing strong livelihoods from visitors and sustainable agriculture.
Not long ago, Uganda used to be home to both the black and northern white species of rhinoceroses. But by the early 1980s, due to poaching, trafficking, and political turmoil under the dictatorship of Idi Amin, native populations—once thought to number around 700—had been wiped out.
Most national parks are unfenced and suffer from high levels of poaching from criminal syndicates and communities living nearby, as well as the encroachment of human settlements and resulting human-wildlife conflict.
Rhinos were recently reintroduced to Ajai Wildlife Reserve and are faring well. After Kidepo, Murchison Falls will be next, along with other national parks across the country. While enhancing biodiversity, we are improving Uganda’s wildlife tourism and the livelihoods possible under the Kenya Wildlife Tourism model—generating $9 billion and 24% of Foreign Exchange, while employing 250,000 people.
Photo ©Paul Hilton
Background: 7 Years Protecting Murchison Falls National Park
Global Conservation has been protecting Murchison Falls National Park, the Jewel of Africa on the Nile River for the past seven years in partnership with the Uganda Conservation Foundation (UCF) and the Uganda Wildlife Authority. Over $3 million has been invested towards Murchison Falls Recovery with co-funding from UWA, the EU, UK and multiple protection and species funders. A summary of Successes and Challenges.
New Global Conservation Project – Kidepo Valley National Park
Over the past two years, we have been supporting limited national park staff and resources, providing training and equipment, patrol support, and a new Command Center and Armory. See Progress over the Last 2 Years.
